Level One and Level Two Training

Critical Skills training will provide teachers with practical and inclusive approaches to the development of skills and attitudes for learners at all phases. It involves the re-design of mainstream curricular content in the form of complex and open-ended Challenges. The aim is to get students working collaboratively within an environment in which they feel comfortable enough to take the risks necessary to do high quality work based on clear performance criteria.

Level One - Transforming Learning ( pdf flyer for Level One)

Part A [3 days]

Participants start by examining the core principles underpinning the strategies and techniques used throughout the course. Building on this knowledge we look into:

Practical strategies to establish a positive learning community. How to decrease stress while maximising motivation and self-esteem. Techniques for effective pupil grouping. Understanding the nature of collaborative problem solving in small group settings. Connecting the classroom community to the curriculum. Designing high quality challenges to engage students and meet curricular targets.

Teachers will leave with a specific set of strategies and activities that they can use in their classrooms.

Level One - Part B [3 days]

The second part gives participants the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences using the Critical Skills model in their own classrooms. On at this level we explore:

The nature of large group collaboration and the implications for classroom practice. Strategies to advance personalised learning. Tools and techniques for guiding pupil movement through Challenges. Observation, feedback and formative assessment techniques - self and peer assessment. How to integrate new learning with different aspects of the curriculum.

Level Two [3 days] - Professional Development Programme ( pdf flyer for Level One)

Practitioners learn to make effective links between curriculum activities and create a continuous improvement cycle in order to promote long term learning goals. The overall aim is to develop sophisticated understanding of the connections between the Critical Skills model and the curriculum framework, with opportunities to design curriculum based activities for use in their own setting.

The focus is on:

Designing challenge based learning opportunities. The move to practices based on deep principles integrated into the flow of lessons. Strategies for building and maintaining a learning community to supports collaborative working. Understanding the techniques for coaching or guiding groups and individuals through linked challenges and activities. Integration of strategies for the assessment of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes. Supporting effective learning and teaching so learners understand quality and how to improve. Supporting the shift from a reliance on specific assessment tools and techniques.

Participants can expect to leave with a new set tools and techniques for coaching or guiding groups and individuals through a sequence of challenges and activities which fit the Critical Skills model.

OUR OTHER TRAINING

Senior Leadership
Workshops
Taster Day
Training - home page